Sports
Accra Great Olympics@70 …What’s there to celebrate?
• Club’s Board Chairman, Mr Amarkai Amarteifio and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Oloboi
Commodore join the players to celebrate the GHALCA Top 6 trophy, the last the club won
Wonder Club, Accra Great Olympics will mark its 70 years of existence tomorrow, hurray!
As a club founded on April 21, 1954, it assumed a position as the third force of Ghana football behind Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko.
Under normal circumstances, tomorrow must be one of the happiest days in the lives of the club’s faithful because a Platinum anniversary is no mean an achievement.
Growing up, many clubs have passed through the football scene, all at a point fighting to be considered as one of the established forces.
But one may ask, where are they now?
Clubs like Dawu Youngsters, Prestea Mine Stars, Ho Voradep, Soccer Missionaries, Maxbees, Kumasi Cornerstones, Iron Breakers, and many others in the past thrilled and entertained fans but have disappeared.
But Olympics have managed to survive similar storms that plunged these clubs into obscurity.
The height of the difficult patch they threaded on was three relegations all of which they managed to return, the reason the AGOSU faithful would celebrate the milestone as a Premier League club.
On such a gargantuan occasion, the club should be celebrating its achievements, no matter how small they are – two Premier League titles in 1970 and 1974; and three-time FA Cup champions – in 1975, 1983, and 1995.
That aside, Olympics also won the Super Cup and the Guinness Gala competitions and as a few would cynically add, the Temogen Cup after beating Hearts of Oak.
In terms of players, Great Olympics have produced some of the finest players across the various generations.
They had the late Cecil Jones Attuquayefio, Peter Lamptey, the late Emmanuel Awuley Quaye, Billy Lomotey, Shittu Mudah, George Alhassan, Abdul Aziz, Amoah Tawiah, and a host of others.
Without a doubt, history makes a place for the Wonder Club as a formidable side in Ghana.
But already, some critics of the club and a few daring loyalists are beginning to question what is there to celebrate.
For such people, the claim of the ‘Dade’ club to be the third force of Ghana football must come with corresponding achievement or statistics to suggest so.
The Wonder Club may lack a continental laurel in their cabinet but put in sterling performances on the few occasions they qualified for continental club competitions, notably against clubs like Abhaluya Club of Kenya, MMM of Madagascar, Coffee Club of Uganda, Enugu Rangers, Invincible XI from Liberia, Motemba Pembe of then Zaire (now DR Congo) and others.
Interestingly, Olympics@70 also coincides with the 50th anniversary of the club’s last league win. One may ask again, is that worth celebrating?
Within that period, Hearts and Kotoko have dominated the scene and built on their successes and left few spaces for clubs like Ashantigold SC, Medeama, Aduana SC, Berekum Chelsea to dominate the league.
It may be a time for a few to party but for dye-in-the wool followers, the anniversary period should call for sober reflection on the way forward to make Oly great again.
Until then, happy 70th Platinum birthday to the Wonder Club of the world.
By Andrew Nortey
Sports
CAF withdraws approval for Baba Yara Stadium
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has withdrawn its approval for the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, Ghana, due to technical infractions, including an unsuitable playing field.
The decision was made after observations made by CAF during the recent Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying match between Ghana and Angola, which was played at the Baba Yara Stadium on September 5th, 2024.
Based on these observations, it was determined that the stadium did not meet the required standards for hosting Category 3 international matches.
The CAF team identified several issues, including a playing field that was deemed unsuitable for competitive matches.
The stadium’s playing field had deteriorated significantly, with uneven surfaces, poor drainage, and inadequate grass cover.
The Baba Yara Stadium, which has a seating capacity of over 40,000, has hosted several high-profile matches in the past, including World Cup qualifiers and AFCON matches.
CAF officials expressed dissatisfaction with the state of the stadium, citing the need for Ghanaian authorities to invest in upgrading the facility to meet international standards.
A letter from CAF noted earlier concerns expressed by the continental body about the state of the playing field.
According to him, “It is important to note that, prior to the match, CAF had expressed concerns about the suitability of Baba Yara Sports Stadium for hosting top-tier international fixtures. Persistent issues at this venue, as well as others in Ghana, such as Cape Coast Stadium and Accra Sports Stadium, have also been noted.”
Given the absence of any other CAF-approved Category 3 stadiums in Ghana, CAF has requested the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to select an alternative venue from among those approved by CAF outside Ghana for Matchday 3 and 4 of the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 qualifiers.
The letter from CAF also recommended that the relevant authorities “conduct a comprehensive assessment of all major international stadiums in Ghana to ensure they comply with CAF technical standards.”
Additionally, CAF advised that the stadium management engage experienced companies immediately to undertake the necessary refurbishment to meet CAF/FIFA standards.
CAF expressed its commitment to supporting Ghana (through the GFA) in bringing its stadiums up to the required standards for hosting CAF/FIFA senior international matches, offering to assist by providing an international pitch consultant with experience in major international competitions, including AFCON, to offer additional expert guidance on the necessary improvements.
The cost of this support would be borne by the GFA.
CAF went on to indicate that once the needed renovation works were completed, it would, at the GFA’s request and expense, conduct an independent inspection to reassess the stadium’s suitability for future matches.
The withdrawal of approval means that Ghana will have to find alternative venues for upcoming international matches, including the AFCON qualifiers.
The Ghana Football Association has promised to work with Government to address the issues and restore the stadium to its former status.
Sports
CAF, University of Cape Town launch Football Management Executive Programme
On September 2, 2024, CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe and the leadership of the University of Cape Town (UCT) launched the CAF Football Management Executive Programme.
This initiative aims to enhance the governance and leadership of African football by equipping administrators from CAF’s 54 Member Associations with essential skills.
The programme, which blends online and on-site learning, was unveiled at an event attended by representatives from 28 African nations.
Dr. Motsepe emphasized the critical role of education in driving excellence in football administration, stating, “Education is the foundation on which excellence is built.”
The Ghana Football Association’s (GFA) General Secretary, Prosper Harrison Addo, Esq., and Deputy General Secretary, Ama Brobey Williams, represented Ghana at the launch.
Prosper Harrison Addo delivered a presentation on the growth of Women’s Football in West Africa, while Ama Brobey Williams spoke on making African football more sustainable and globally competitive.
This partnership marks a significant step in CAF’s commitment to empowering football administrators and advancing the future of African football.
The Ghana Football Association’s (GFA) General Secretary, Prosper Harrison Addo, Esq., and Deputy General Secretary, Ama Brobey Williams, represented Ghana at the launch.
Prosper Harrison Addo delivered a presentation on the growth of Women’s Football in West Africa, while Ama Brobey Williams spoke on making African football more sustainable and globally competitive.
This partnership marks a significant step in CAF’s commitment to empowering football administrators and advancing the future of African football.
